Archive for the ‘MetroDesk Blog’ Category

Plainville seventh-grader Karthik Karnik competed in the final round of the National Geographic Bee today against nine other geography whizzes from across the country.

While he didn’t finish in the top three, Karnik, 13, was among the seven other finalists who won $500 in the contest, which was held in Washington, D.C., and moderated by “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek.

The top three won college scholarships of $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000. The top finisher was Tine Valencic, 13, of Texas, who will also get a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Karnik had won the title of 2011 Massachusetts National Geographic Bee Champion earlier this year.

The contest is scheduled to air over four nights beginning June 13 at 6:30 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel, the company said in a statement.

Santiago had been texting his ex-girlfriend indicating he was going to commit suicide, Romero said. She called police, who were dispatched to all three bridges in the area.

Officers found Santiago on the Central Bridge and tried to speak with him, but he jumped anyway.

“That’s a tough bridge to survive because of the water current there and it’s so cold,” Romero said.

Police were stationed along the riverbank and tried to send out flotation devices but could not retrieve Santiago. Padellaro was the last officer stationed along the river, and jumped into the water to grab Santiago, Romero said.

Padellaro was able to grab Santiago’s belt and bring him to shore, where Lawrence firefighters and an ambulance were able to treat Santiago.

He was taken to Lawrence General Hospital for treatment and evaluation. Though Santiago’s current condition is unknown, Romero said he didn’t believe the injuries were serious.

A car rear-ended a state trooper’s parked cruiser at a construction site on Route 79 in Fall River this morning, sending both the driver of the car and the trooper to the hospital, State Police said.

The driver of a 1993 Buick Regal apparently suffered a medical incident before the 11:07 a.m. crash, State Police said in a statement. The 23-year-old Dighton man lost control and hit a Toyota Prius, continuing into a barrel and sign at the construction site before striking the trooper’s cruiser.

The trooper was parked under the Brightman Bridge when his cruiser was rammed, State Police said in a statement. Though the officer was wearing a seat belt, he sustained minor injuries during the crash and was treated at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and released this afternoon.

The operator of the vehicle that struck the cruiser was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital after the incident, and is still at the hospital. No information was released on his condition.

The driver has not been cited for any violations. The crash is being investigated by the State Police and State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and charges may be brought against the driver, State Police said.

A man attempted to steal a 440-pound bomb mitigation barrel from the Shawmut MBTA station on Monday but was arrested soon afterwards, officials said.

A caller reported around 2 p.m. that a man, later identified as Patrick Beech, 23, of Roxbury, had taken the barrel from the station and was pushing it on a dolly covered by a blue blanket.

The silver-colored barrel, which is used for trash disposal, limits the impact of explosive devices, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo.

MBTA Transit Police officers found Beech at the corner of Pleasant and Hancock Streets in Dorchester. According to a police report, he told officers that he had found the barrel on the side of the road.

He told the officers he had seen the barrels on television and heard they didn’t work, so he decided to take it. He was planning to take the device to a warehouse.

He was arrested on a charge of larceny over $250. Beech was released last night without bail, and did not attend his arraignment hearing today, a spokesman for Suffolk district attorney’s office said. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

More than six tons of unwanted prescription drugs were collected in Massachusetts during the recent National Prescription Drug Take-Back event, the US Drug Enforcement Administration said today.

The 12,343 pounds of unwanted and expired drugs were collected by 166 agencies at 173 different return sites in the program, which is intended to ensure proper disposal of the medications and keep them out of the reach of youth and abusers.

“This prescription Take Back event was a terrific success, and is just one of the preventative measures that DEA has initiated to help stem the illegal use of prescription medication,” said Steven W. Derr, special agent in charge of the New England office of the DEA.

From 5,361 sites across the country, the DEA collected more than 376,593 pounds of prescription drugs, including a total of 38,190 pounds from New England.